BOCA RATON (April 27,
2009) – Michael Zager, Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent
Scholar in Performing Arts, professor of music and founder of
Florida Atlantic University’s commercial music program and
FAU’s Hoot/Wisdom Recordings, will spend this summer
working at Payap
University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
This will be his third
summer in Thailand. In 2006 and 2008, he was awarded Fulbright
Specialist Grants, which were hosted by Payap. His mission was to
develop a commercial music program and record label that emulates
the programs at FAU.

As part of his
assignment, Zager produced a CD entitled “Tales From the
River,” which morphs Southeast Asian instruments with western
instruments. This summer, he will produce a CD in Payap’s new
recording studio, which Zager helped to design.

Zager was commissioned by the Fulbright Program in Thailand to
write a song commemorating the 60th anniversary of the program,
which occurs in 2010. The song, titled “We Learn to
Care,” was composed and arranged by Michael Zager, and the
lyrics were written by Porntip Kanjananiyot, executive director of
the U.S. Educational Foundation in Thailand; John Latartara of the
University of Mississippi; and independent lyricist Aram Schefrin.
Zager recorded the song with members of the FAU Chamber Singers,
under the direction of Patricia Fleitas, as well as FAU student and
faculty musicians. Alejandro Sanchez-Samper, FAU’s assistant
director of commercial music, mixed the song.

“I am looking forward to returning to Thailand this summer
and working, once again, with my wonderful colleagues and the
commercial music students at Payap,” said Zager. “Payap
has become a second home.”

The
goals of the Fulbright Program in Thailand are to create
cross-cultural awareness, build networks and encourage caring.

For
more information about FAU’s commercial music program, call
561-297-0600.